Ppg Industries, Inc.

The Plessey Company Plc

Bicc Public Limited Company

Harry G Heller

Stephen N Oliver

John Whittall

Clive Trundle

Jack Brettle

Mark John Vincent

Martin W Baskerville

Julian R Levell

Stuart A Harris

Described are novel photochromic indeno-fused naphthopyran compounds, examples of which are naphthopyran compounds having a substituted or unsubstituted indeno group, the 2,1 positions of which are fused to the f side of the naphtho portion of the naphthopyran, and having certain substituents at the 3-position of the pyran ring. Certain substituents may also be present at the number 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 or 13 carbon atoms of the compounds. These compounds may be represented by the following graphic formula: ##STR1## Also described are polymeric organic host materials that contain or that are coated with such compounds. Optically clear articles such as ophthalmic lenses or other plastic transparencies that incorporate the novel naphthopyran compounds or combinations thereof with complementary photochromic compounds, e.g., certain other naphthopyrans, benzopyrans and spiro(indoline)type compounds, are also described.

Photochromic indeno-fused naphthopyrans

Method of marking an article

Described are a series of novel photochromic benzopyran and naphthopyran compounds substituted with (1) a cyclopropyl group and (2) a phenyl, substituted phenyl, or 5-member aromatic heterocyclic group at the 2-position of the benzopyran or naphthopyran ring. Also described are organic host materials that contain or that are coated with such compounds. Articles such as ophthalmic or plano lenses that incorporate the novel pyran compounds or combinations of the novel pyran compounds with other complementary photochromic compounds are described.

Photochromic chromene compounds

Described are a series of novel benzospiropyran and naphthospiropyran compounds in which a norcamphor group (or its alkyl-substituted homologues) or a tricyclodecane group (or its alkyl-substituted derivatives) are appended at the 2-position of the benzospiropyran or naphthospiropyran ring. Also described are organic host materials that contain or that are coated with materials containing such compounds. Articles, such as ophthalmic or plano lenses, that incorporate the novel pyran compounds or combinations of the novel pyran compounds with other complementary photochromic compounds are described.

Photochromic spiropyran compounds

Described are a series of novel photochromic benzopyran and naphthopyran compounds in which two cyclopropyl groups are appended at the 2-position of the benzopyran or naphthopyran ring. Also described are organic host materials that contain or that are coated with such compounds. Articles such as ophthalmic or plano lenses that incorporate the noval pyran compounds or combinations of the novel pyran compounds with other complementary photochromic compounds are described. ##STR1##

A series of novel photochromic spiropyrans are disclosed in which a spiro-adamantane group is introduced into the 2-position of the benzopyran or naphthopyran ring. The spiropyran compounds of the invention exhibit heliochromic properties, i.e. they color in sunlight and fade rapidly at ambient temperatures in the absence of U.V. light, making them good candidates for use in the manufacture of sunglasses. The invention includes lenses which darken in sunlight and incorporate the novel spiropyrans and a process for the preparation of the spiropyran compounds.

Photoreactive plastics lenses are disclosed which are coated or impregnated with an adamantane 2-spiro-benzo or naphthopyran and with a blue coloring photochromic benzo- or naphthopyran having a nitrogen containing substituent in the 2-position in the pyran ring. The lenses darken in sunlight and fade rapidly at ambient temperatures in the dark or in white light which does not contain a U.V. component. The combination of the yellow/orange coloring adamantane 2-spiro pyran compound with the purple/blue coloring pyran gives a desired brown/grey coloration in the sunlight-darkened lens. The invention includes novel blue-coloring pyran compounds in which the nitrogen-containing substituent in the 2-position is a phenyl group having an amino or substituted amino or nitrogen-containing heterocyclic substituent in the ortho- or para-position of the phenyl group. The basic chromene structure and the suffix N will be used to distinguish the blue-coloring pyran compounds having a nitrogen-containing substituent, namely: ##STR1##

Photoreactive lenses with adamantane spiro compounds

A series of novel 3-pyrryl fulgides and fulgimides are disclosed which are photochromic. The photochromic compounds are coloured by subjecting them to irradiation in the near ultraviolet and will revert to the colourless form on exposure to visible light, especially light having a wavelength in 600 to 650 nm band.

Growing community of inventors

Cardiff, United Kingdom

Harry G Heller